Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. corn production reached 13.7 billion bushels, marking a record high driven by favorable weather and advanced farming techniques
- Soybean production in the U.S. totaled 4.02 billion bushels in 2022, up 7% from the previous year due to expanded acreage
- Wheat production for the 2022/23 marketing year was 1.98 billion bushels, with winter wheat accounting for 1.26 billion bushels
- The U.S. food manufacturing sector generated $1.02 trillion in revenue in 2022, employing advanced automation in packaging lines
- Processed meat products accounted for 25% of U.S. food processing output in 2023, valued at $250 billion annually
- Dairy processing plants produced 150 billion pounds of fluid milk products in 2022, with pasteurization rates at 99%
- U.S. grocery retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2023, with supermarkets capturing 60% market share
- Convenience stores sold $285 billion in food and beverage in 2022, up 8% YoY
- Online grocery sales grew to $100 billion in 2023, representing 10% of total grocery sales
- U.S. per capita consumption of red meat was 112 pounds in 2022, beef 57 lbs
- Chicken consumption reached 98 pounds per capita in 2022, highest ever recorded
- Fluid milk consumption dropped to 17.5 gallons per capita in 2022, down 40% since 1970
- U.S. food industry employed 20.3 million workers in 2023, 10% of total employment
- Farm sector jobs totaled 2.6 million in 2022, average wage $70,000
- Food processing employed 1.8 million in 2023, manufacturing hubs in Midwest
The U.S. food industry is massive, spanning high production, advanced processing, and trillion-dollar retail sales.
Consumption
- U.S. per capita consumption of red meat was 112 pounds in 2022, beef 57 lbs
- Chicken consumption reached 98 pounds per capita in 2022, highest ever recorded
- Fluid milk consumption dropped to 17.5 gallons per capita in 2022, down 40% since 1970
- Cheese consumption hit 40 pounds per capita in 2022, mozzarella leading at 10 lbs
- Fresh fruit consumption was 126 pounds per capita in 2022, bananas 27 lbs
- Vegetable consumption totaled 140 pounds per capita in 2022, potatoes 50 lbs
- Added sugar intake averaged 57 pounds per capita in 2022, from beverages 30%
- Bottled water consumption reached 45 gallons per capita in 2022, surpassing soda
- Soft drink consumption was 38 gallons per capita in 2022, diet varieties 25%
- Coffee consumption averaged 9 pounds per capita in 2022, roasted beans basis
- Beer consumption was 26 gallons per capita in 2022, light lager dominant
- Wine consumption reached 2.6 gallons per capita in 2022, up 3% YoY
- Organic food consumption grew to 6% of total food sales in 2022, $62 billion
- Plant-based milk consumption hit 4 gallons per capita in 2022, almond leading
- Yogurt consumption was 13 pounds per capita in 2022, Greek style 50%
- Snack consumption averaged 30 pounds per capita in 2023, salty snacks 60%
- Candy consumption totaled 25 pounds per capita in 2022, chocolate 60%
- Bread consumption was 50 pounds per capita in 2022, white bread 40%
- Pasta consumption reached 20 pounds per capita in 2022, dry weight basis
- Rice consumption averaged 27 pounds per capita in 2022, long-grain 80%
- Egg consumption hit 279 per capita in 2022, table eggs 93%
- Seafood consumption was 19.8 pounds per capita in 2022, shrimp 5 lbs
- 38% of U.S. adults followed a specific diet in 2023, keto and vegan popular
- Food waste per capita was 325 pounds in 2022, fruits and veggies 40%
Consumption Interpretation
Employment and Economics
- U.S. food industry employed 20.3 million workers in 2023, 10% of total employment
- Farm sector jobs totaled 2.6 million in 2022, average wage $70,000
- Food processing employed 1.8 million in 2023, manufacturing hubs in Midwest
- Grocery retail jobs reached 4.5 million in 2023, turnover rate 50%
- Foodservice employed 12.4 million in 2023, restaurants 70%
- Total food and beverage economic output was $1.5 trillion in 2022, 5.5% GDP
- Food exports reached $180 billion in 2023, soybeans $28 billion top
- Food imports totaled $200 billion in 2023, seafood and fruits leading
- Food manufacturing contributed $250 billion to GDP in 2022, 1% total
- Average farm income was $89,000 in 2022, net cash basis
- Food retail trade deficit was $20 billion in 2023, due to import growth
- R&D spending in food industry hit $5 billion in 2022, innovation focus
- Food industry venture capital reached $10 billion in 2023, alt-proteins 30%
- Inflation in food prices averaged 8.5% in 2022, meats highest
- Food-at-home CPI rose 11.4% in 2022, dairy 18%
- Sustainable packaging investment was $2 billion in 2023, compostable materials
- Labor costs in food processing up 10% in 2023, wages to $25/hr average
- Food industry taxes contributed $100 billion federally in 2022
- E-commerce food sales multiplier effect added 500,000 jobs in 2023
- Organic sector economic impact $80 billion in 2023, 1 million jobs
Employment and Economics Interpretation
Processing
- The U.S. food manufacturing sector generated $1.02 trillion in revenue in 2022, employing advanced automation in packaging lines
- Processed meat products accounted for 25% of U.S. food processing output in 2023, valued at $250 billion annually
- Dairy processing plants produced 150 billion pounds of fluid milk products in 2022, with pasteurization rates at 99%
- U.S. bakery product manufacturing reached $80 billion in value added in 2022, driven by bread and cake segments
- Beverage manufacturing, including soft drinks, generated $190 billion in 2022, with bottling efficiency up 15%
- Snack food manufacturing output was $45 billion in 2022, featuring high-pressure processing for preservation
- Frozen food processing hit $70 billion in sales in 2022, with IQF technology preserving 90% nutrients
- Canned food production totaled 12 billion units in 2022, with aseptic packaging reducing waste by 20%
- U.S. confectionery manufacturing revenue was $40 billion in 2022, using precision tempering for chocolate
- Vegetable and fruit processing generated $55 billion in 2022, with juicing lines processing 1 million tons yearly
- Poultry processing output reached 40 billion pounds in 2022, with automated evisceration lines at 140 birds/min
- Seafood processing plants handled 5.5 billion pounds in 2022, using flash freezing at -40°F
- Grain milling produced 350 million tons of flour in 2022, with roller mills achieving 98% extraction rates
- Sugar refining output was 11 million tons in 2022, refined via carbonatation and centrifugation
- Edible oil processing extracted 25 billion pounds of soybean oil in 2022, using solvent extraction methods
- Prepared soup manufacturing reached $8 billion in 2022, with retort pouches extending shelf life to 18 months
- Baby food processing produced 500 million units in 2022, adhering to strict HAACP protocols
- Pet food manufacturing output was $30 billion in 2022, with extrusion cooking at 300°F for kibble
- Cheese processing yielded 15 billion pounds in 2022, using cheddaring for texture control
- Yogurt production reached 2.5 billion gallons in 2022, fermented with live cultures at 104°F
- Ice cream manufacturing produced 1.4 billion gallons in 2022, homogenized at 2,000 psi
- Butter production totaled 2.1 billion pounds in 2022, churned via continuous separators
- Margarine output was 1.2 billion pounds in 2022, emulsified with mono-diglycerides
- Pasta manufacturing reached 2 billion pounds in 2022, extruded through bronze dies for texture
- Tortilla production hit 6 billion pounds in 2022, nixtamalized corn masa base
- Ready-to-eat cereal output was $12 billion in 2022, flaked via high-temperature puffing
Processing Interpretation
Production
- In 2022, U.S. corn production reached 13.7 billion bushels, marking a record high driven by favorable weather and advanced farming techniques
- Soybean production in the U.S. totaled 4.02 billion bushels in 2022, up 7% from the previous year due to expanded acreage
- Wheat production for the 2022/23 marketing year was 1.98 billion bushels, with winter wheat accounting for 1.26 billion bushels
- U.S. cotton production hit 18.7 million bales in 2022/23, the highest since 2019, primarily from Texas and Georgia
- In 2023, U.S. beef production reached 27.2 billion pounds, influenced by herd liquidation and strong export demand
- Milk production in the U.S. was 226.3 billion pounds in 2022, with California leading at 41.2 billion pounds
- U.S. broiler production totaled 61.5 billion pounds in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021
- Pork production reached 28.3 billion pounds in 2022, driven by efficient hog operations in Iowa and North Carolina
- U.S. apple production was 11.4 billion pounds in 2022, with Washington state producing 69% of the total
- Potato production in the U.S. amounted to 433 million hundredweight in 2022, led by Idaho at 134 million cwt
- U.S. rice production was 231.3 million cwt in 2022/23, with long-grain varieties making up 77%
- Almond production in California, which accounts for 80% of U.S. output, reached 2.6 billion pounds in 2022
- U.S. grape production totaled 7.2 million tons in 2022, with California dominating at 99%
- Orange production in the U.S. was 3.9 million tons in 2022/23, down 5% due to weather challenges in Florida
- U.S. peanut production reached 5.8 billion pounds in 2022, led by Georgia's 51% share
- Sorghum production was 454 million bushels in 2022, primarily for grain and ethanol use
- U.S. sugar beet production hit 34.4 million tons in 2022, with Minnesota leading production
- Hay production totaled 125.3 million tons in 2022, essential for livestock feed
- U.S. tomato production for fresh market was 1.8 million tons in 2022, with California supplying 90%
- Strawberry production reached 1.4 million tons in 2022, almost entirely from California
- U.S. barley production was 194.6 million bushels in 2022, used mainly for malt and feed
- Oat production totaled 67.1 million bushels in 2022, down due to competition from other crops
- U.S. sunflower seed production was 2.2 million pounds in 2022, focused on oilseed varieties
- Dry bean production reached 28.3 million cwt in 2022, with North Dakota leading
- U.S. walnut production was 717,000 tons in 2022, all from California orchards
- Pecan production totaled 343 million pounds in 2022, boosted by Georgia's output
- U.S. pistachio production hit 1.1 billion pounds in 2022, a record from California
- Avocado production was 404,000 tons in 2022, with 90% from California
- U.S. lettuce production for fresh market reached 3.4 million tons in 2022, led by California and Arizona
- Onion production totaled 7.6 million tons in 2022, with California producing over 50%
Production Interpretation
Sales and Retail
- U.S. grocery retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2023, with supermarkets capturing 60% market share
- Convenience stores sold $285 billion in food and beverage in 2022, up 8% YoY
- Online grocery sales grew to $100 billion in 2023, representing 10% of total grocery sales
- Walmart's U.S. grocery sales were $250 billion in fiscal 2023, leading all retailers
- Fresh produce sales in U.S. retail hit $75 billion in 2022, with organic up 5%
- Dairy department sales reached $110 billion in 2022, milk comprising 40%
- Deli prepared foods sales grew to $25 billion in 2023, rotisserie chicken leading
- Bakery sales in supermarkets totaled $40 billion in 2022, in-store baked goods 55%
- Snack aisle sales hit $50 billion in 2023, chips and pretzels dominating
- Beverage sales in retail were $200 billion in 2022, bottled water up 12%
- Meat department sales reached $130 billion in 2023, beef at $50 billion
- Seafood retail sales were $18 billion in 2022, frozen segment 45%
- Candy and gum sales totaled $45 billion in 2023, chocolate 60%
- Frozen food sales grew to $80 billion in 2022, vegetables 25% share
- Canned goods sales were $35 billion in 2023, soups and vegetables leading
- Health and wellness food sales hit $60 billion in 2022, gluten-free up 10%
- Plant-based product sales reached $12 billion in 2023, meat alternatives 40%
- Alcohol beverage sales in grocery stores were $30 billion in 2022, beer 70%
- Household essentials food-related sales totaled $20 billion in 2023, spices leading
- E-commerce food delivery sales hit $25 billion in 2023 via apps like DoorDash
- Club stores like Costco sold $50 billion in groceries in 2023, bulk packs key
- Dollar stores food sales reached $40 billion in 2022, private label 60%
- Average U.S. household spent $5,703 on food at home in 2022, up 11% YoY
- Per capita food spending away from home was $3,596 in 2022, restaurants 70%
Sales and Retail Interpretation
Sources & References
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